USA > Illinois > McDonough County > History of McDonough county, Illinois, its cities, towns and villages with early reminiscences, personal incidents and anecdotes and a complete business directory of the county > Part 58
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Blandinsville .- Elder Josiah Terrel preached the first sermon in 1846, and organized the church same year, with the following named persons, as original members: Thomas Fisher and wife, Frank Freeland and wife, Sylvester Ruddle and wife, Jacob Keith- ly and wife, Elizabeth Freeland, Wesley Freeland, Joseph Way, John Freeland. Rev. D. G. Porter was the first pastor. The church at one time was quite powerful in the community and es- tablished an institution of learning in the place, the well known Blandinsville Seminary, which was in successful operation some years. The building has passed into the hands of the village and is still used for school purposes. For some years the cause has not prospered so well and is attributed by its members from the fact the society has always opposed slavery and secret societies.
580
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
They have a church building valued at $1,200, and a parsonage ` $250. They pay pastor $100 for one-third his time, and raise for all church purposes $200 per year. The society is financially weak. In the Sunday school they have enrolled seventy-five with an average attendance of fifty, and raise abont $25 per year for school purposes. J. Dunham is the presiding elder for the dis- triet, and has occupied like position for many years. The follow- ing named have served as pastors ; D. T. Porter, J. R. Evans, J. Dunham, J. L. Condon, A. Wimset, Newton Walker, David Mar- tin, L. P. Parvin, Isaac Valentine, and A. Callahan.
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Pleasant Gale .- This church was organized in 1868 by Rev. J. Dunham, about one mile east of the present church building, which is located on the northeast corner of section eight, Sciota township, and was dedicated November 1, 1874, by Rev. N. A. Walker. The building is a good frame structure, and cost $2,000 to ereet it. The following are the names of the original members : Samnel Rush and wife, Mr. Elwell and wife, Mrs. B. K. Purkey and Mrs. Samuel McDonald. Revival meetings have been held by Revs. Dunham, Martin, Worman, Wagner, Smith and Pease, which resulted in additions to the church each meeting. The growth has been continual and steady, both in numbers and spirituality. The following have served as pastors : Revs. J. Dunham, S. K. Coats, I. Valentine, A. Worman, N. A. Walker, I. Wagner, and W. P. Pease, the present pastor. The trustees are W. H. Allen, Samuel Rush and Joseph Breiner. The present membership is fifty. Annual contributions, $450. Average sal- ary of pastor for one-fourth of his time, $150. Value of church building, $2,000; value of parsonage in the town of Good Hope, $ 450. The average attendance of the Sunday school is fifty. Thomas Kellough, Class Leader, and George Torrence, Steward.
Centre Chapel .- This Church was organized in November, 1875, by Rev. W. P. Pease, and with the following thirty-six members : John Snook, Thomas Brooks, Henry Rodenbach, Andrew J. Ilyde, George B. Hastings, Edith Snook, Sarah Brooks, Elias R. Smith, Cyntha Arbogast, Mary M. Hastings, Richard II. Paugh, Edwin M. Smith, Belle Smith, Eva Smith, John Snapp, Barbara Cinn. Snapp, David Hyde, Eliza Hyde, James C. Booth, Sarah Booth, George W. Hudson, Rebecca Hudson, Simon Rutledge, Merey Rutledge, R. G. Carter, Mattie Carter, Matthew M. Boden, Francis Boden, Jacob Van Doren, Margaret Van Doren, Catha-
581
IIISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
rine Van Doren, Harry Rodenbach, Joseph Arthur, Elizabeth Ar- thur, Henry Hudson and J. W. Buckley. Since the organization the names of J. C. Barrett and Lizzie Robertson have been added. The growth of the Church since its organization has been more in the spiritual advancement of its members than in new addi- tions. The Church building was erected in 1876 on the southeast corner of section sixteen, Walnut Grove township. It is valued at $1,600; size, 30x42 feet. This Church, in connection with the following three United Brethren in Christ Churches, own a par- sonage in Good Hope valued at $450: Willow Grove, Pleasant Gale and Jerusalem Churches. Center Church was dedicated December 10, 1876, by Rev. J. W. Hott, of Dayton, Ohio-Rev. W. P. Pease, Pastor. The average salary of Pastor is $125. The Trustees are George Hasting, Henry Rodenbach, Simon Rutledge, Thomas Brooks and Quintus Walker. Attendance at Sunday School, seventy ; collections, twenty dollars a year.
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN.
We are indebted to Rev. G. H. Schnurr, of Macomb, for the following sketch of this denomination.
The Evangelical Lutherans date their organization from Octo- ber 31, 1517, when Luther nailed ninety-five theses (propositions) against the old church door of Wittenberg, which he proposed to defend ; they being directed against the papal abuses. In 1530 the adherents of Luther, in defense of their faith, laid before the Diet at Augsburg a summary of their doctrines, which has been known as the "Augsburg Confession," and which has formed the foundation for all Protestant confessions. These ad- herents to, and defenders of, the pure Bible doctrine wished to be known simply as Evangelical Christians, but they were constantly called Lutherans in derision ; and since Luther restored the gos- pel to the people, they finally accepted the name as an honor, and joined it to their "Evangelical" designation. Doctrinally, the Evangelical Lutheran Church glories in being "the church of the Word," maintaining the duty of simple faith in the Word of God without regard to human philosophy or logic. She insists on the careful indoctrination of her young people in Luther's Catechism, a summary of Bible doctrines through her pastors. In theologi- cal literature the Lutheran Church stands pre-eminently front in the ranks.
1-37
582
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Her researches are acknowledged as the most profound, and many of her writers are the indispensable aids of every Christian scholar. Her progress in this country was much retarded on account of the less demonstrative character of her people when compared with the puritanic element coming from England, and also by the transition from the various foreign tongues to the English language. For the last twenty-five years, however, she has increased at a much greater ratio than any other Evangelical denomination. She now numbers in this country, 54 synods, 2,795 ministers, 4,822 churches, and 600,353 communicants. In this county the first organization was effected April 7, 1871, by the Rev. G. H. Schnurr, who located at Bushnell at that time. The said congregation held its services at the Jerusalem Chapel, three miles northwest of Bardolph. Another organization was effected in Bushnell and regular services held for one year ; but owing to present difficulties they were suspended, in the hope of more auspicious circumstances. In the space of a few years, sev- eral families having removed from the neighborhood of Jerusalem Chapel to the vicinity of Macomb, the question of transfer of the congregation to Macomb was agitated. The proper arrange- ments having been made, a meeting for that purpose took place at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Macomb, January 11, 1875, where the congregation re-organized under the name and title of "Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church," and the old Congregational Church was purchased and refitted for Divine Services.
In the meantime (July, 1872) another organization was effected five miles southwest of Macomb, and a house of worship erected conjointly with Methodists in the neighborhood, and called Salem's Church. These two churches, at Macomb and in Chalmers town- ship, are still regularly served by their first pastor, and embrace a membership of eighty communicants.
We have one Sunday school in Macomb (C. H. Rahe, Superin- tendent), and unite with others in a Union school at Salem church. There are connected with the two seven teachers, sixty-five scholars. Average attendance, forty-five. Contributed for cur- rent expenses, per year, $15; for benevolent purposes, $15. Pas- tor's salary, one-half the time, $325. Missionary purposes, $50.
583
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
SUMMARY.
The following table will show at a glance the relative strength of the different denominations in the county, with the number of their churches, value of church property, annual contributions for all church purposes, number of Sunday Schools, pupils enrolled, average attendance and contributions :
CHURCHES.
Tot. No.Churches
TotalMemb'rship
Church Property.
Total Value of
tribution ......
Annual Contri-
Sunday Schools.
Enrollment in
ance S. Schools.
Average Attend-
Sunday Schools.
Annual Collect'n
Baptists
10
746
$29,250
$8,490
815
625
$328 00
Catholic .
350
9,000
1,500
140
125
Christian
Q
1,131
22,100
7,200
1,190
777
416 00
Christian
1
120
5,000
800
100
75
38 00
Cumberland Presbyterian.
5
332
13,600
2,350
310
250
148 00
Free Will Baptist
82
5,000
1,000
147
127
35 00
German Baptist
1
62
Methodist Episcopal
23
1,374
56,450
10,380
1,870
1,431
876 00
l'resbyterian
8
890
33,350
8,650
980
830
472 00
Reformed ..
1
104
6,600
1,665
100
80
45 00
Regular Baptist ..
60
9
330
13,113
2,600
545
370
154 00
Universalist
1
100
5,000
1,000
150
125
81 00
Grand Total
87
5,876
$209,463
$48,135
6,539
4,950|
$2,660 00
Congregational
115
9,500
1,800
120
90
37 00
Evangelieal Lutheran.
80
1,500
400
72
45
30 00
United Brethren
*Called in derision "New Lights."
584
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
CHAPTER XXXVII.
REMINISCENCES. .
Recollections of John Wilson .- Until 1828, when I was married, I cannot say that I ever had a home. On the thirtieth day of October, 1828, I was married to Martha R. Vanee by Elder John Logan, with whom I yet live.
When I commenced farming I had one horse and three cows. The first year I broke my land with a Barshire plow, a wooden affair. I borrowed a wagon from William Moore, whe was just from Georgia. He went crazy soon afterward and was taken back by his friends. After this I made a wagon myself entirely of wood, the wheels of which were made solid and hewed out of a large tree. There being no iron about it, I had to keep it well soaped to keep it from being set on fire by the friction. I now had three calves, two of which I yoked together, and the third harnessed and used as a leader. With them I done my plowing, and hitched them to my wagon and done all my hauling of wood and rails, they being able to draw ten or twelve rails to the load. This wooden wagon I used for several years, going to mill with it and doing all my hauling.
What little education I have I got after I was married. I got a United States spelling-book and a primer, and at night, while my wife was spinning, I would throw a quantity of brush upon the fire, having first placed in the fireplace a large back-log, and lying down on the floor, by the light given, I would study. I would do this after having worked hard all day mauling rails and other work. In this way I soon mastered my speller and primer and then took up the Bible, reading it through twice, when I thought myself able to read anything. By the same course of study I obtained a little knowledge of geography and arithmetic.
585
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Game was very abundant in the early times, and wild animals were not uncommon, such as wolf, wildcat, fox, lynx, badgers, aud even the black bear. Deer were very plentiful. The strength and powers of endurance of this animal are wonderful indeed. I once shot and crippled one, when the dogs attacked it and fought it a long time, until I got in another shot, when it jumped about twenty feet away from the dogs that were holding it, and fell dead. One morning I heard my dogs barking and went to see what was the matter, when I discovered they were chasing a little fawn. I caught it and carried it in my arms to the house, where it grew up as a pet. One day some strange dogs came around, and, frightening it, caused it to break one of its legs. I tied it down for the purpose of fixing it, when it endeavored to get away. At last it gave a powerful leap and actually pulled itself in two, thus killing itself.
I have an old flint-lock rifle, one I traded for when I first came to the county. It was then an old gun and had done much ser- vice, but still to-day it is in as good order as it ever was, and as true as the modern breech-loader. As I roamed the wild forest, often this gun was my only companion, and it was always faith- ful. Many are the excitings incidents that could be related in connection with it. A short time ago one of little grandsons de- sired to see me shoot it. To please the boy, I took the faithful old gun from its hook on the wall, and, as was my custom nearly a half century ago, I threw it across my shoulder and started forth for game. We soon spied a squirrel in a tall oak. I took aim and fired. Though my hand was not so steady or my eye so keen as it used to be, I brought the little animal to the ground.
I well remember quite an exciting fight I had with a lynx, one winter. During the day a good sized calf had died, and that night it snowed. While but doing chores the next morning, I noticed some tracks near the carcass of the calf which I supposed were made by a panther, knowing it must be somewhere near by. I called my dogs that they might trace it, but when they came they refused to go near it. I then went over to Vances after a couple of hounds which were glad enough for a fight, and soon had the animal treed ; it was as large as a gray wolf and resembled one. I got my old flint lock and determined to have a fight. I shot its paw a time or two but it would not jump down from the tree. I then shot it in the head knocking it down. The dogs would run up to it and each time would have great pieces of flesh
586
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
torn from their bodies by the savage animal. I thought I would help the dogs, so I got a club and waded in, when the lynx, dogs and myself had a lively battle, but we were too much for it, and at last killed it. For many years I kept the skin of this fierce lynx that had fought so hard for its life.
Accommodations in Macomb in those early days were not so great as they are now. Wm. Shannon and myself were once summoned to attend court as witnesses, and when we arrived, the houses were all full and we could get no place to stop. We were compelled to go out of town a short distance, and crawl under a hay stack to sleep during the night.
I used to raise large fields of cotton and we made all the cotton goods we used. I also raised flax, which we spun and wove and made into goods. We didn't buy many "store goods" then.
I have on my place a log house built in 1829, now forty-eight years old, but we have out-grown it, and live in more modern style.
I was born in Jackson county, Tennessee, November, 2, 1806, and am now seventy-one years old.
Salem Woods' Reminiscence-To give some idea of the of the manner in which the early settlers reached this county, traveling over the almost boundless prairies and through the wild woods, I will relate my own experience.
I left Erie county, Pa., May 28, 1828, and came to Terre Haute, Ind., intending going to Vandalia, then the capital of the State of Illinois. While in a store in Terre Haute, I met the Captain of a boat who told me he would take me to Vincennes, if I would work my passage. While Vincennes was no nearer Vandalia than Terre Haute, the country was better settled, and I decided to accept his offer. Arriving at Vincennes, I at once started on foot to Vandalia, traveling one day thirty miles and passing but one house. At the capital I called upon the State Auditor and told him I wanted to pay my taxes on a quarter section of land, the same I now own and on which I have lived for forty-seven years. He asked me if I had any State paper, when I answered that I had nothing but silver. My taxes were one dollar and sixty cents. He took one half of a three dollar bill, telling me to add ten cents to it and it would settle the bill. This he let me have for seventy- five cents. I therefore paid my taxes for eighty-five cents.
587
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
Being very anxious to reach McDonough county, I start- ed from Vandalia late in the afternoon thinking to stop at a house I was informed was only six miles on the road. This house I reached just before sundown, where I found the woman sick and was refused admittance. I then had to trudge on six miles to the next house, endeavoring to make it in as short a time as possible. The night was very dark and a thunder storm came up and in a short time I was drenched to the skin. By the lightning's flash I noticed a point of timber some distance ahead, and reaching it gave several yells, thinking it possible some one might live there. I received no answer, and would feign have stopped there for the night, but was afraid to on account of the wolves, which were then in great numbers. I passed on, crossing a creek and coming to another open prairie, and after traveling some distance I was met by a pack of dogs. I called loudly for some one to take off the dogs, and my call was answered by a man, who kindly took me in. I asked for some bread, but this they did not have, and for a supper I had a bowl of milk. I then lay down on the floor in my wet clothes and slept soundly during the remainder of the night. In the morning I was directed to Beard's Ferry, now Beardstown, where I intend- ed to cross the Illinois river. There was but one house there at that time, although the town had been laid out. I came out into Schuyler county, where, on Sunday, I met several people going from Church. Of them I enquired of certain lands, telling the township, range and section. One of the party spoke up and said that he had the adjoining farm. This was William Pennington, who now lives in Emmet township, and who had come down to mill and was compelled to wait several days for his grist. He directed me on to Carter's settlement, where I met for the first time Elder John Logan, the pioncer preacher. From this settlement I passed on to hunt my land, intending to stop at William Pennington's. On arriving near where I thought the place ought to be, I could find no house, no path, or any signs of life, until after a long search I heard a rooster crow. This led me to Mr. Pennington's house, which was then the only one in the township. I found my land beautifully located near the timber, which I thought would soon be cut away.
There was a piece of land north of Crooked creek that I desired to see, and I told Mr. Pennington that if he would accompany
5SS
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
me I would work for him as many days as he should be gone from home. He accepted my offer and we started out, having plenty of " corn dodgers" and pork to take along. Southwest of the present town of Macomb we came on to a number of wig- wams, from which the Indians had vacated but very recently. We crossed Crooked creek, where Bacon's mill was afterwards built. West of Macomb, after passing through the timber, which but few white men had ever trod, we came to a large prairie. Here we halted and could see nothing beyond. I told Mr. Pennington it was no use to go further, as I did not want the land thus situ- ated. So we retraced our steps and arrived at the home of Mr. Pennington the next evening. I thought it a beautiful country, but not enough timber to fence even a small portion of the vast prairie.
Some years after this I carried eight bushels of wheat to Bacon's mill, on Crooked creek, to get ground, but on account of low water I was unable to get my grist. I came up from home after it two or three times, and still failed to get it. Being out of flour, I took my wheat to Ellisville, in Fulton county, and finding so many teams here before me, I knew my chances were poor, so I took my eight bushels of grain on to Rushville, where, after waiting a considerable length of time, I succeeded in having it ground. At Ellisville I met two four-horse teams all the way from Burlington, Iowa, and, like me, they had to go on to Rush- ville to have their grain ground. Such experience as this would terrify the modern farmer, but they are only a specimen of what the early settler had to undergo.
Silas J. Creel's Reminiscences .- In 1838 I settled on a piece of Congress land, which was said at the time not to be in market. It was located in what was called the " Lost Township. " I built a house and cultivated a portion of the land, thinking I would soon be entitled to a pre-emption. Some years after Congress passed a new pre-emption act, in substance, that if any person, after its passage and approval, would build a house and move up- on its land, shall be entitled to pre-emption. This act applied to the farm I was already living on, so that if any one, according to the provisions of this act, had erected a house upon the premises and moved into it, they could have taken it from me, a procced- ing that I did not care to have done. In order that I should com- ply fully with the act, I must move on and build. I therefore
589
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGHI COUNTY.
moved off the place, and with my neighbors, many of whom lived a great distance, went five miles to Spring creek, cut logs, hauled them up and erected a house in one day-fourteen by sixteen feet-in which I moved with my family, in strict compli- ance with the very letter of the act. I then went to Quincy, filed my claim, and in five years proved up, got my deed, and hold it to this day.
Robert L. Dark's Reminiscences .- I first came to McDonough county in 1829 and with my family camped upon Camp Creek. The Indians were then still numerous in the county and often came to our cabin. My wife could not rid herself of a natural fear of the red man, and desired to return to Schuyler county, from which we removed. To this I objected. Twice, while I was away, she packed up all our household goods, preparatory to starting, but I returned just in time to stop all such proceedings. Business again called me away, and I had no sooner left than she again packed up, and loading the goods on the wagon, with our two little ones she started for the vicinity of Rushville. I met them a short dis- tance from the Schuyler county line and tried to prevail on her to return, but this time without avail. No amount of coaxing could make her change her mind. As "the mountain would not go to Mahomet, Mahomet would have to go to the mountain," so I went with her, and we settled near Rushville, where we lived about four years, and as a considerable settlement had been made near the present town of Industry, I again prevailed on my wife to go with me to McDonough county, where I settled on the farm on which I now live, on section 30, Industry township. I have never regretted so doing, notwithstanding we have seen hard times, yet we believe "all is for the best."
Martha Russell's Reminiscences .- My father, William Pringle, moved to this county in 1830, when I was a very young girl ; but I remember the occurrences of that day very distinctly. The "big snow" of that year comes to my mind just as vividly as if it was but yesterday. It was a terrible winter, indeed. For three long months we could hardly stir out of our house.
My father settled west of Macomb, near the old cemetery ; for a barn he used his his wagon, and sheltered his horses under the broad canopy of heaven, allowing them to graze around upon the prairies, they going out in the morning and home at night. Among the horses he had was one we called "Old Bill," who was
590
HISTORY OF M'DONOUGH COUNTY.
as white as the driven snow. One day, while the horses were out, the prairie was discovered on fire, and soon all returned in great fear but old Bill. The fire swept by, and old Bill came in, but now his color was entirely changed, he being as black as coal, the fire having singed off every bit of his hair. By careful treat- ment he was saved, but ever after this, when the smell of fire was in the air, he would scamper home in a hurry.
Peter Hale was one of our near neighbors, he living on the site of the old grave yard. Sometime in 1830 one of his little girls fell into the fire and was burned to death, and was buried near by, she being the first person there buried. Truman Bowen was the second. When Mr. Bowen died there could not be found lumber enough in Macomb to make his coffin, and James Clarke had to give his wagon-bed for that purpose.
About this same time a man named Thomas Morgan married a widow lady with a little girl about three years old. The liitle one had the chills and probably gave some annoyance to the man. One day he took her with him to the woods to gather blackberries, and, as he said, carried along some coals to make a fire in case a chill should come on the girl. When he returned home the little one was noticed by its mother all stained with blackberries. Ex- amining her body, she found the inhuman wretch, her husband, had, with coals of fire, burned her body in a terrible manner, af- terwards staining it with berries to hide the mark. Peter Hale took the little one to his house where she lingered about three days, when she died and was the third person to be buried in the old grave yard. The wretch was arrested, and, there being no jail at Macomb, he was taken to Rushville for safe keeping, from which he escaped and was never afterwards heard from. Thus the gallows was cheated out of a deserved vietim.
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